Naware founder Mark Boysen first tried killing weeds with drones and a 200-watt laser. He had been brainstorming startup ideas with friends and reflecting on how his family in North Dakota lost three members to cancer, a tragedy they suspected might be linked to chemicals in the groundwater. Finding a chemical-free method to eliminate weeds seemed like a promising solution.
However, the laser approach was a dead end due to the high risk of starting a fire. After extensive trial and error with concepts like cryogenics, Boysen settled on a different solution: steam. He demonstrated this system earlier this year at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.
His company has developed a system that uses computer vision to identify weeds in lawns, fields, and golf courses, then kills them with nothing but vaporized water. The device can be attached to mowers, tractors, or ATVs. Currently, Naware is adaptable, and Boysen is visibly eager for his idea to spread rapidly, much like the weeds he aims to eradicate.
In a world of advanced AI and billion-dollar software firms, Naware stands out as a classic garage startup story. Boysen said his team first tested steam by ordering a basic garment steamer from Amazon. After initial success, they ordered seven more. Boysen quickly realized these were not industrial-grade, leading to significant research to develop a method that was both effective and repeatable enough to scale.
Developing the steamer technology was one challenge, but the bigger hurdle was accurately identifying the weeds. While AI software can be trained to recognize patterns, the “green-on-green” problem was particularly difficult. The software must identify weeds in real-time as the machine moves across a lawn, a task powered by Nvidia GPUs.
Boysen believes they have solved this problem. Naware is targeting companies that maintain athletic fields and golf courses, claiming the system can save such customers anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000 on chemicals alone. Additionally, customers save money by not needing to pay staff whose sole job is to spray those chemicals. Naware has been conducting paid pilots to refine the product, and Boysen’s pitch has already attracted prospective partners.
He stated they are pursuing strategic partnerships and are in discussions with multi-billion dollar equipment manufacturers interested in their product. While he could not name them, he expressed confidence in the discussions.
Boysen said success will depend on three factors: securing those partnerships, obtaining patents, and securing funding. He has been bootstrapping Naware but plans to open its first fundraising round in the coming months. He aims to secure a funding round so substantial it deters any competitors, deliver on the promise of effective weed elimination, and make the venture a success. He expressed no concern about achieving these goals.